Look, shut up. Demos, IMO, are to be judged more severely than the actual game itself.
Heres why: No one is forcing a gaming company to release a demo, and there have been more than enough games that were released demo-less. (Fallout 3, Most every recent WWE game, COD... I could go on). Demos encourage hype and support for the game before it's released, which is a good thing true enough.
Wait a minute, didn't I see just a few days ago that a Modern Warfare 2 demo is available? The game's been out for a year..... ah. You mean to tell me that gaming companies will release a demo after the game has been out for a while to re-kindle the game hype fires? Yes. Yes they do. Common practice.
SO. If demos are to be as bastardized as gaming companies treat them, I will almost always judge a game by it's demo. Hey, if you didn't want it to happen, you shouldn't have released a demo.
First on the block, EA Sports MMA.
Hoooooorrriiibbblllleeee. Here's why:
The total control system from Fight Night Round 3 and 4. I didn't like it, I don't think anyone else I know liked it either. Why....would you put it into.... a fighting game like UFC? For those not in the know, all of your punches, their power and direction, is controlled by the right stick. So you want to swing a right hook? Curl the stick down and to the right.
The problems?
Well, what if I want to swing a 1-2 hook combo? Too bad fatty, the stick has to go back to neutral before it can start swinging again. It takes a fraction of a second, but you'll notice it. Furthermore, your game is relying on a few well known fighters, the Strikeforce title, and the bouts in Japan? And this is riding on a sketchy system? Umm... well, I was going to relate it to NBA LIVE/NBA 2K series, but even thats been questioned these last few days. It'd be like making a "NFL" game on a Blitz control system and engine... yeah. Like that. You don't have much to go on, AND your overall system isn't stable? Look out world. I applaud them for attempting to do something new, but shun them for making it feel more arcade-like. Bad gaming company, that's not how we do things. DIDN'T BACKBREAKER TEACH YOU ANYTHING?
Ok ok ok, enough of that.
Enslaved.
Remember those games I constantly reference at the store? The ps2 games that were the core of the system? Legend of Kay, Tomb Raider, Sly Cooper, Ratchet and Clank, Jax, the Crash series, Rayman, PSYCHONAUTS, Spyro, Ape Escape, blah blah blah.
They are called 3d platformers. They are beautiful games. (You can see where I'm going with this)
The basic idea, you have an attack button (sometimes two), a jump button, a use button, a control stick for the camera, a control stick for the character, a block button usually, and a set of skills. Solid games, great stories, and tons of different versions to try. I love them, don't get me wrong, the biggest reason I own a psp-go is for Daxter and the ratchet series (no seriously, platformers on psp-go FTW).
Enslaved is under this category. It's gorgeous to look at, an interesting story (you maniacs, you blew it up... you'll get that joke after you play the demo), and solid controls. So what's the problem you ask? Well, it's the same joke told a thousand times before, it's nothing we haven't seen yet. Grab a ledge, jump up, hit the button twice to stun the guy, a 3rd time kills them, jump to higher platforms to get collectables. Is that enslaved? Well, actually it's describing Daxter, AND enslaved.
Nothings wrong with it though, I like that the genre is still going strong, I'm just not one to shell out $60 for something that can be $5 on the ps2.
Whuts next you ask? Kane and Lynch 2.
Ok, all you alls, you're full of shit. You didn't play K&L1 when it came out, you started playing after it had been out for a while. Stop your lying. The reviews and sales prove it. I remember when that game came out, no one had it, then like 6 months later, BAM. They all was playing it.
My problem with these types of games (and specifically this game), is that it requires precision controlling, but doesn't give you any. So the demo starts (oooh look at the neato filming techniques, wow, way to hype something that just lowers the quality of the screen), and you start getting shot at. Normally I'd take cover behind something and start to pick my targets. Well, turns out your crouch and your cover look are the same. Watch out for that.
The mass reviewers tore the game apart, and I happen to agree. It was set on normal. I ran out of bullets after 8 shots, tried to crouch run to the next cover, and got shot by a guy who was standing behind me. Real awesome. I liked the first K&L, but not enough to shell out $60 for another fore into the series, especially if it doesn't actually get any better.
Seriously Doug, did you like anything? Oh my yes. But we'll get to that at the end.
Gothic 4.
Ok..... read what I said about Kane and Lynch, apply it to Gothic. I own Gothic 1 AND 2. I got both of them on the days they were released, am I asking for a pony? No. I'm simply saying I tried the damn things from the ground up. Gothic 1 was pretty interesting, you could waste hours on small missions, and more hours on the storyline. But this was all before Fallout 3, Oblivion, GTA4, before I knew better. Plus it was pc only at the time. The game doesn't do anything really right, except be a time burglar, if you're willing to put in the time. I, however, am not. The last 2 gothic games didn't go over so well, why would you push for a 4th? What is this, two worlds?
I've wasted enough time, the good stuff.
Mafia 2. Simply put, I played the demo, complained about the controls, then 2 hours later (after playing through it 3 times), I went out and bought the game. I looooove love loved Mafia 1, still have it installed on the alienware. This, to me, is just more of the same, and I'm not complaining. After a day or so of playing and enjoying Mafia 2, I'll shoot out a review. Here are the games it reminds me of: Godfather (1 NOT 2), Mafia 1, GTA4, and Saint's Row. More of the same you say? A yup. What about the gripes over the controls? I lived with it. Good storytelling, a solid engine, and beautiful graphics can make me, nay, force me to learn how to work a new control scheme. It's not different or strange, just sticky and picky.
Moral of the story, demos can tell a lot. Some games made me never want to buy them, others basically demanded it. Go figure.
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